Quinoa bean salad. Ed Peaco / For the News-Leader

Cecil's to Go features Benissimo! Gelato and Sorbet products, such as mango sorbet. Ed Peaco / For the News-Leader

Cecil's to Go owner Trey Manning and his wife's sister, Penny Phillips, are two of the three primary operators of the food truck. Manning's wife, Teri Manning (not pictured), also helps run the business. Ed Peaco / For the News-Leader

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A new addition to the food-truck scene offers fresh flatbread sandwiches with mellow flavors inspired by Louisiana cooking.

Owner Trey Manning, wife Teri Manning and her sister, Penny Phillips, along with other helpers, operate Cecil’s to Go at Glenstone Avenue and Bennett Street. Trey Manning created the menu and prepares it from scratch — including the fresh-baked flatbread.

“I’m a Southern boy, so everything starts in my world with onions, peppers, celery and garlic. It’s the ‘quadfecta’ from down South,” said Manning, who hails from Monroe, La. “They call it the trinity, but I add garlic to it and make it a quadfecta.”

His approach to cooking is to layer complementary flavors atop the quadfecta. He’s also committed to acquiring local ingredients whenever possible. He prepared a selection of items that show the variety of Cecil’s to Go.

Creole pulled pork flatbread sandwich ($4.18 half, $7.90 whole): Oven-roasted for 16-17 hours and seasoned with Louisiana-style barbecue sauce, tangy and sweet. By roasting, not smoking, the process leads to a result that focuses on the meat. Salad with sandwiches comes with a choice of homemade dressings: sesame-ginger or Italian with a secret ingredient that embellishes the flavor.

Falafel flatbread sandwich ($3.72 half, $6.97 whole): The falafel is grilled, not deep-fried, with smooth tahini and bright flavors of tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. It’s a great vegetarian choice cooked in a healthy manner.

Quinoa bean salad ($1.86): The sturdy and mildly nutty grain is mixed with a few chickpeas and the Italian dressing. This was a pleasant surprise, not only for the fact that you can walk up to a food-truck window and order quinoa, but especially because it is prepared in such an appealing way.

Mango sorbet ($2.85): Manning presents desserts by Benissimo! Gelato and Sorbet of Springfield. This sorbet had intense flavor, moderate sweetness, and a light consistency that’s perfect for lunch on the go.

Manning said he learned how to cook 20 years ago at a time when he was a vegetarian.

“I have a background to make things that are creative and tasty without the meat, but I also do meat products as well,” he said.

“I’ve got both sides of the equation.”

In this way, Cecil’s to Go is a good destination for accommodating a range of tastes.